Stephan Wunderlich, Press Officer from the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation, provides a brief legal analysis on the issue of trophy import bans that violate European law
A legal analysis commissioned by the CIC German Delegation reveals that national trophy import bans in European Union (EU) countries like Belgium, Finland, France, and the Netherlands violate EU law.
Is a general trophy import ban a matter for the EU alone?
Conducted by a leading German commercial law firm, the study argues that such bans fall under exclusive EU jurisdiction, as they primarily regulate foreign trade rather than environmental policy.
The analysis by Dr Katja Göcke of GvW emphasises that import restrictions from third countries into the EU are traditional tools of foreign trade policy.
Therefore, a general ban on the import of hunting trophies is a matter for the EU alone. Countries that have already imposed such bans are thus contravening EU law.
Are such bans incompatible with EU law?
Moreover, a legal memorandum authored by Dr Nikolas Sellheim for the CIC, likewise evaluates the legal foundations of a potential trophy import ban. He further supports the position that such bans are incompatible with EU law.
These legal findings can have significant implications for ongoing efforts in countries like Poland, where foreign anti-hunting organisations are pushing for similar bans. Furthermore, this interpretation can influence future EU-wide policy discussions, potentially leading to unified regulations across Member States.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following studies:
- Facts about “Trophy” Hunting
- IUCN Briefing Paper on Trophy Hunting (2019)
- Summary Evaluation of the Memorandum on Trophies
- Memorandum Defense Against Ban on Import of Hunting Trophies
- Public Attitude Towards Trophy Hunting Report (2024)
